Brigands of Thoralinar - turn #63

[X-DM Jon]

 Your heavy cavalry wing attempts the usual thunderous approach, but have to take the arduous approach up-hill and fall short of reaching their goal. Your light outriders prove most useful in this regard and exchange fire with a unit of human skirmishers on the left wing. Horses scream as they are struck by arrows, while the lightly armed men fall from their positions behind the wooden ramparts, pierced by arrows. Both units hold.

 Meanwhile your armsmen come under fire from the light infantry in the centre, but are left unscathed.

 Your archers and crossbows do their best to thin out the lines of the centre, killing some. While return fire fall on your advancing infantry, but their heavy armor and large shields protect them from any damage of consequence.

 And your scouts are now completely certain that no enemy hides in the rear. Not that they mind taking a break from the fighting up at the palisades...

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

And the time to engage has come. Dismounting, the Dragoons on the left advance under the cover of the fire from outriders attempting to tie the enemy in position, with the Knights holding back for a charge possibility should it be required, while the armsmen and regulars push forward on the centre and on the right respectively, shields raised and ready to ward off any incoming shot from the skirmishers and the suchlike. The scouts return to the battle lines, with orders to aid where required in the line.

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage focuses her magics on weakening the units holding back the Dragoons. Hoping to open up their flank.

(OOC: I don't how much "juice" the Swordmage has left - Anyway, she is saving about 1/3 of her magical firepower for the apperance of heavy units or the leader spoken of.)

[X-DM Jon]

OoC: It's quite impossible to charge a field fortification, so the only enemy the knights will be able to charge, are units outside of it.
 As for magic, you have as many spells as your level allows. I.e. the standard allotment. Which should be enough for the entire battle.

IC:

 On the left your dragoons dismount and rush the palisades and earthen ramparts. The Swordmage points her finger towards the palisade at the point of attack and a massive ball of fire roars forward - but suddenly! A robe-clad figure in the enemy centre lifts a hand and the fireball dissipates into nothing on the way, dispelled!

 The dragoons come under intense fire from the skirmishers and then crash into close combat with the hobgoblins. Fighting is fierce on the left, but it seems like your forces are pushing the enemy back off the palisade walls. The skirmishers are certainly vacating their spot, prefering to keep out of close combat with the heavier unit. This turns out to be a bad idea as they are shot down indiscriminately by your outriders.

 Your crossbows fire back on the offending left wing skirmishers, peppering the palisade once more, but doing little damage. And the Tornilen archers exchange fire with the enemy archers. The arrows fall so thick amongst your exposed archers and they fall in droves, screaming. As the dust clears, it becomes clear to the Swordmage that her men are all dead or dying...
 The scouts move up from behind, protecting the sorceress and send some of their own arrows in vengeful flight against the enemy archers.

 Certainly your archers did their job well, for much of the enemy archer fire has seized.

 And in the centre your armsmen vault the barricades and are peppered with sticks and stones from the irregular unit there. But they shrug it off and soon they are in fierce combat with both  enemy units. The palisades cause a certain amount of confusion in their ranks and they are denied in their assault and thrown back.

 While on the right, your regulars storm the lightly armed defending goblins. At first they seem to be doing well, slaying many of the gray pests and routing one of their units. But the counter-attack threaten to overwhelm them and about half the regiment is swiftly all but wiped out by the ferocious goblins!

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Ghorien curses the retreat on his right flank and that his cavalry cannot engage harder. He gestures to his signalman and the pennants behind his banner dip and rise in a series of pre-agreed messages. Pushing in again with his Armsmen he attempts to start to turn the line of engagement so that they can push onto the edge of the goblin horde that threaten his regulars. The Crossbows are also ordered to move in support of the regulars hoping that this may ease some of the pressure from them. IN turn the knights are ordered in - it is looking like no one is going to push beyond the palisade and they may as well drive their barded steeds into the melee where they can still push the enemy back at the very least, let alone the damage that the armoured men upon their backs can wreak in the grand combat.

[X-DM Jon]

OoC: The regulars ain't retreating, they received a critical hit. But held the line. You may change your post.

IC: (OoC; forgot to mention this) At this point you spot the Ghoeran commander, he's in the centre, directing the human units there.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

OOC As it stands it suits dramatically, I am happy with the narrative as is, especially as the battlefield is not Ghorien's strategiic home so shall live with how it is, as he saw it, if that makes sense?

IC

So he shows himself at last! Ghorien checks round him that he has his ghosts and his companions with him and quickly directs their martial attentions to the commander. Leaving his personal banner in the Armsmen he works his way through his own lines until he is in a position to lead the engagement directly against the enemy. As he stands behind, waiting the chance to launch he quickly checks his half plate, his shield, his axes and his daggers, knowing any and all will be needed for this. Looking left and right he can see his friends stand with him and are likewise ready for the task ahead. Then, when the lines grow close and the distance is short he raises his voice in an almighty cry and leads the charge of his gray and black ghosts forwards in a surge of energy, anger and destruction.

"Havoc! Havoc! HAVOC!"

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage keeps casting spells on the left flank, intending to keep the other wizard busy.

[X-DM Jon]

OoC: Cool, you got it 

IC:

 You give your orders and the crossbows march towards the right side, in aid of their beleaguered brethren. The regulars are locked in a life or death struggle with the horrible goblins, they had acquired a foothold on the palisades, throwing aside one unit and forcing them to rout, but were in turn hit hard in the flank and all but torn apart. Still they fight on! Tearing into the tiny, but numerous enemies, killing them left, right and centre and routing yet another goblin unit. The enemy right is broken!
 

 The battle is in full swing by now, pink humans and gray goblins are dying left right and centre. Ghorien Hiriele leads his own bodyguard on a wild charge and joins the armsmen just as they attempt once more to vault the palisades. A roar goes up as they throw themselves at the Ghoeran led regulars and irregulars holding the centre, renewed with zeal and energy at the presence of their Duke!
 The Ghoeran commander exhorts his men to equal feats of bravery and attempts to use his numerical superiority to throw your battle-hardened armsmen back!
 The struggle is fierce, yet neither party gives even one inch of ground!

 The outriders on the left ride their horses all the way up to the barricades and jump up, taking the left flank of the palisade as the first unopposed of your units and raising their unit's banner! What an honour! From there they exchange fire with the skirmishers in the settlement proper. Both units loose many men to intense shortbow fire, but at the end the enemy unit withdraws deeper into the settlement, covered by a reserve unit of skirmishers moving forth to the rear.
 At the same time your dismounted dragoons are fiercely struggling against the hulking hobgoblins, trying to force them off, whilst the massive goblins push back. Green-grayish blood mixing with red making the rampart slick footing. This time however, your forces give ground and loose some of the advantage they had before. The hobgoblins are fearsome opponents indeed!


 Your scouts keep exchanging fire with the remaining archers on the other side. Clearly and finally winning the "fire superiority" struggle, as the arrow fire from the settlement stops.
 This time the Swordmage manages to overcome the enemy mages' counterspells and strikes the hobgoblins on the left flank with a terrifying flash of lightning! The humanoids howl in pain and stricken terror, but otherwise hold the line.

 At this point in the battle a great cheer goes up in the enemy rear and one of the fleeing goblin unit rallies, as the terrible orogs march into battle! They are headed directly towards the wearied regulars who waver and shout in great terror at this fearful sight!

 Cries of horror resound from your regulars. "IT IS THE GORGON! IT IS THE GORGON!"
And the unit stands on the ramparts looking upon the approaching orogs gripped in fear, but STILL they do not flee! Such foolish bravery.

 And sure enough. In the middle of the heavily armed orog unit marches a massive figure, ten foot tall, gray, stony looking skin, with massive ram's horns growing from his forehead. He wields a massive two-handed sword and is clearly, undoubtedly, a foul spawn of Azrai. An awnsheglien.


OoC: Since the battlefield is rather smallish, Ghieste is able to see most of this. The Swordmage, on the other hand, can't see what's going on behind the walls, but will hear the regular's cry of terror.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

Hoping the Knights are doing what was asked of them on the left flank and plowing into the ranks of the hobgoblins Ghorien turns his attention to the pretend Gorgon coming his way. Not entirely unexpected he shouts to rally his regulars as he pulls his Armsmen in that direction and presses forward himself, flicking the blood and flecks of bone from his axe as he goes. He signals quickly to bring forward the stone weighted nets and lassos to his own unit so that those men skilled with them can launch them at that horrendous figure.

He also sends a herald to call the Sword Mage urgently to his side. This does not seem like his fight alone.

As he wades into the terrified ranks of the regulars he shouts encouragement telling them to "Hold!" and that "the work here is almost done now lads". Loudly he jokes that is that is the Gorgon then he himself and his Ghosts are clearly King Boer and his arse wiping westerners!

As he nears the front of the line though he is careful to touch the pommel of his misericorde, her of the final kisses, knowing she is tense and ready on his left hip.

[X-DM Jon]

OoC: Almost forgot...

IC: The left flank hobgoblin unit's situation swiftly changes from tasting victory, into the bitter smell of scorched flesh and ozone. The dragoons on their hand draw back at the intense energy outlet of the Swordmage, fearful for their own lives!

 At this point, the knights arrive, dismounting and throwing themselves at the beleaguered hobgoblins! It doesn't take long before the greyish-brown humanoids are cleared from the ramparts. Their corpses littering the area, whilst a few survivors flee where they can.

[X-Ghieste & HOT/GH (Matt)]

The reports from his left flank merely make the Duke's stare more determined and flinty. The battle is so near to being carried it feels and now this... this Monstrousity walks upon the field. A sigh says it all.

[X-DM Jon]

Down in the corpse strewn plain, the surviving scouts look at the Swordmage in a "what now?" sort of way. The clamor from the battle is so intense that it is completely impossible to make out anything Ghorien Hiriele is shouting.

 The outriders continue exchanging fire with the newly arrived skirmishers. Using the field fortification for their benefit for once! Neither does much damage to the other.

 Hiriele tries to shift the weight of his force around, so they move sideways instead of straight ahead, fighting as they go, in order to link up with the shaken regulars. The ploy succeeds and with the added support of the crossbows climbing the ramparts, you stand ready to receive the newly arrived enemy!

 The battle is joined as the brigand regulars and irregulars press away on your left side, taking many of your armsmen down, but meeting more than equally the cold deadly steel of your armsmen. The irregulars are decimated as they are pressed between the regulars and your armsmen, at the moment of your tactical "side-step", and the unit routs in panic! Whilst the orogs and goblins charge your centre and right! The crossbows are the first to open the battle on your right, with a deadly barrage into the onrushing goblin skirmishers. The little grey buggers are torn to pieces and they turn tail and flee yet again!

 At this point the orogs and the titanic looking figure thunder into your regulars, with Ghorien Hiriele in the middle, surrounded by your personal guard. Your regulars are completely torn apart at the insanely powerful orogs! Some are still standing, most are running away. Your position shielded you from the worst, but now you are in the middle of a frenzied battle for survival! Massive weapons doing their best to tear you and your guard apart. It's a veritable slaughter!

 If not for the swift action of your knight commander, you would certainly lie dead upon the field this day. His unit's decisive charge around the rear of the enemy and into the side of the orog unit, saves your measly life.

[X-DM Jon]

Now that you're close enough to see the huge bugger, commanding his forces securely from the centre with a thunderous bellowing voice, here's what he looks like:

[X-Tornilen/SM (Alexander)]

The Swordmage leads the scouts up to the top of the ramparts, hestitating for a moment as she sees the monsters commanding the Orogs. A few of the scouts see her hestitate and for a moment panic is close to spreading, but she raises her sword.

"Forward! The daylight will weaken them and the day is almost ours!"

The she runs as swiftly as she can towards the battle in the center, trusting the scouts to keep up. She eschews spells until she joins the battle, making her way towards Duke Ghorien's position. Only then does she let rip with her magic.